Hoyer Responds to President Bush on FISA

WASHINGTON, DC - House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today in response to comments made by President Bush at the National Security Agency in Fort Meade:

“Congressional Democrats believe our number one responsibility is to keep the American people safe. To that end, we are working on a new and improved measure to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to give the intelligence community the tools it needs to closely monitor terrorists while protecting the basic rights of U.S. citizens as enshrined in our Constitution.

“The President continues to act as if the two are mutually exclusive goals, and is pushing Congress to renew a seriously flawed bill. Democrats know we can protect Americans from terrorism at the same time that we protect their rights.”